Morgan City takes Vandy 3-2

The ball didn’t seem to come off the bat of Morgan City’s Andy Dunlap very hard in the seventh inning. But it did.

The ball didn’t look like it would make it to the fence. But it did.

The ball looked like it would drift out to foul territory. But it didn’t.

Dunlap’s game-winning opposite field homerun propelled the 13th seeded Tigers over fourth seeded Vandebilt 3-2 in the Regionals the Class 4A baseball playoffs yesterday.

“I was feeling bad before because I made an error that cost us a run,” said Dunlap after the game. “So I felt like I needed to do something about it.”

“One swing, that’s all we needed,” said Morgan City head coach Richey Garrett. “Luckily we got it at the right time.”

The Tigers (23-10) got the board in the second inning. An Eddie Anslum (0-for-3, RBI) sacrifice fly brought home Clint Narvarro for a 1-0 lead.

The Terriers (28-5) blew a golden opportunity to score in the bottom of the inning. With two runners on and one out, Jeremy LeCompte got picked off at second base. The out proved costly because the next two Terriers batters were hit by pitches.

Instead of a run scoring to tie the game, the bases were loaded, and T. J. Freeman hit into a fielder’s choice groundout at second without any runs crossing the plate.

“That pickoff was the biggest play of the game,” Constant recalled.

In the bottom third, a throwing error by the Tigers allowed Vandebilt starter Jeff Deblieux to reach second base. After stealing third, a wild pitch by Tigers starter Grant Dozar sent Deblieux home to tie the game 1-1.

Vandebilt scored again in the fourth. With two on and two outs, Freeman (1-for-2) singled to plate LeCompte and give the Terriers a 2-1 lead. Freeman tried to extend the play into a double and was thrown out at second to end the inning.

Morgan City tied the game in the top of the fifth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Deblieux walked Tyler Miller to plate Corey Navarro. Dozar grounded out in the next at-bat to end the inning 2-2.

The battle remained still until Dunlap (1-for-3) hit only his second homerun of the season in the seventh. As Dunlap ran up the first base line, he pleaded the ball in to “Stay in!” while Terriers assistant coach Jerry Martin declared “Foul ball! Foul ball!”

Terriers right fielder Stephen Martinez tracked the bomb to the wall then looked up to realized the blast was gone. The Morgan City team erupted out of the dugout to greet Dunlap at home plate.

“”It was a fastball, up and away, and I just went with it,” said Dunlap.

“We throw balls to the outer half [of the plate], and he doesn’t touch’em in two games, and [today] he hits the ball,” said Constant.

“That’s what we work on against left-handed pitcher — off-center screen we call it,” said Garrett. “We come at angle; we’re not hitting straight. We’re throwing a left-handed look, and we’re telling them we want it to go right.”

Vandebilt’s best chance to score came in the sixth with a runner on second. But consecutive knocks to the deep outfield were snagged by Tigers leftfielder Anslum and a sliding catch by centerfielder Devin Duvall.

“We never quit; that’s what our team is all about,” Garrett said. “They beat us home twice and we beat them over here twice.”

Dozar earned the complete game win throwing eight strikeouts, three walks and hitting three batters and allowed two unearned runs on five hits.

Deblieux took the loss throwing seven innings of three-hit ball, fanned 11, walked three, hit one batter and gave up two earned runs.

The loss was particularly hard for Terriers seniors Jacob Allen (0-for-3), Deblieux(0-for-3), Doug Champagne (1-for-2), Everette Talbot, Reece Bergeron (0-for-3, 2K), Evan Mistich (1-for-3, 2K), Alex Mitchell, and Jeremy LeCompte (0-for-3, 2K).

“I think we got some guys who are going to do well in college baseball,” said Constant. “The seniors started a winning tradition and showed real leadership to our younger guys.”

The first-year coach could not hide his disappointment after such an incredible season.

“It hurts bad that we’re not going to the next level in the playoffs,” he said, “but that’s baseball.”

Morgan City will host the quarterfinals match up against the Archbishop Shaw Eagles Friday afternoon. Garrett preferred in reflect on this win.

“Beating a 28-4, fourth seeded team, I want to enjoy it for a little while we start looking at Shaw,” he said.

Andy Dunlap’ game winning opposite field homerun took down fourth seeded Vandebilt 3-2, Tuesday afternoon. * Photo by KEYON JEFF